Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Microsoft Transitioning Away from HoloLens Mixed Reality Hardware

Microsoft has confirmed that hardware development for its HoloLens mixed reality headset has officially come to an end.

The company ended production of its latest headset, HoloLens 2, in October 2024, and at the time did not disclose future plans for the HoloLens team. In 2023, some teams, including those working on HoloLens, were hit with layoffs, with the company only expressing vague plans to continue its mixed reality hardware push. Further, plans for a third iteration of its mixed reality headset were in the works, but were scrapped (paywalled).

Now, Microsoft has closed the door on the hardware with confirmation sent to The Verge from Microsoft Mixed Reality CVP Robin Seiler:

"We are transitioning away from hardware development but will continue to provide support for HoloLens2 hardware and software through 2027, as announced in October. We remain committed to the IVAS program and will shift our focus to cloud and AI technologies, which will serve as the foundation for IVAS as a situational awareness platform."

The company is also turning to a new partner, defense technology firm Anduril Industries, to continue its HoloLens contract with the Department of Defense. Anduril Industries will take the lead "to drive the next phase of the U.S. Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program," according to a joint press release.

Microsoft's Defense Department contract, which was estimated at $21.9 billion in 2021, focused on developing the IVAS technology that would be used for training and feature a unified heads-up display integrating high-resolution night, thermal, and soldier-borne sensors. The current system is designed to enhance situational awareness, target engagement, and decision-making in the field.

Moving forward, Anduril Industries will take over development of IVAS and handle future production of headsets used by the military. Microsoft will continue to support the program through the use of Microsoft Cloud and AI capabilities, the company said.

About the Author

Chris Paoli (@ChrisPaoli5) is the associate editor for Converge360.

Featured

  • circuit patterns

    Anthropic Intros Lower-Cost Claude Sonnet 5

    Anthropic has launched Claude Sonnet 5, positioning the model as its most autonomous mid-tier offering to date and a lower-cost alternative to its flagship Opus 4.8 system. The company said the model can plan multi-step tasks, operate tools such as browsers and terminals, and complete agentic work at a level that previously required larger and more expensive models.

  • digital lock

    CoSN: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Remain Top AI Concerns in Education

    A leading concern for education technology leaders across the United States is the potential for AI to enable new forms of cyber attacks, according to the latest State of Ed Tech report from CoSN.

  • abstract smartphone translucent screen displaying AI interface

    Apple Unveils Redesigned Siri AI

    At its recent Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced Siri AI, a redesigned version of its voice assistant that Apple describes in its own announcement as "a profoundly more capable and personal assistant." The update is intended to make Siri more conversational, more context-aware, and more useful across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.

  • large cloud icon on the right in an abstract world above a polygon with a dark blue background

    Cloud Security Alliance Expands Agentic AI Governance Work

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) has announced a series of CSAI Foundation milestones aimed at securing what it calls the agentic control plane, including a new catastrophic risk initiative, CVE Numbering Authority authorization, and the acquisition of two agentic AI specifications.